Magnetic puzzle



May 21, 1935. fr. H. DARLING ET AL 2,002,077

MAGNETIC PUZZLE Filed March 24, 1933 7M l 2 l INVENTOILS;

TTORNE.

Patented May 21, 1935 c fUNITED? STATES `lui'r-lilvr OFFICE MAGNETIC rUzzLE Thomas H. Darling and William Maccabee,

c Rockville Centre, N,Y.v l Application March 24, 1033, seal No. 662,514

` (ci. 27s-157)' c c 4 c Claims.

FThis invention relates towhat are Commonly c known as puzzles, referred to as jig saw puzzles, employing a plurality of puzzle parts or elements of numerous shapes, designs or contours adapted 5f to* be assembled in a proper relationship with the invention is toprovide 'a puzzle of theclass" 1 described wherein the puzzle pieces or elements are either Vcomposed wholly of magnetically infiuenced material or partially of such material to permit their placement' and arrangement on a magnetized plate to facilitate the supportingv of Athe puzzle elements on the plate againstV displacement with respect to each other in the process of solving the puzzle and'completing the picture representation thereof; a further ob Y ject being'to provide in conjunction'with the puzzleelements a magnetized plate or table and a tool by means of which puzzle pieces'may beremoved from and appliedto the magnetized plate or table in the operation of `assembling the puzzle'elements, said tool involving a suction cup for lifting and transporting the puzzle elements and means for releasing the elements-from the suction cup; and with these and other objects in view, the invention' consists in an amusement device ofthe class and for the purpose specified which` is simple in construction, eficient'in use and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed. l Y l The invention is fully disclosedvin the following specification, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of Aour improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each ofthe views and in which: 'i l Fig. 1 is a plan view of av magnetic plate or table showing a number of puzzle or game pieces arranged thereon. I

'Fgj2 is a partial section of the structure shown in Fig. 1 on anlenlarged scale, and showing a tolwhich we employ.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are sectional views of Aseveral forms of puzzle or game pieces that we may employ. t. Y

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of another form of puzzle or game piece; and,

Fig. 'l is a sectional viewof a part of a table or supporting plate showing a slight modification.

In carrying the invention into effect, a number of puzzle or game pieces I0, preferably of different contours, are adapted to be assembled on a plate or table I I in a predetermined relationship with respect to each other with the separate pieces interlocking and intermeshing with each other to produce a complete picture or representation as in other puzzles of the class under consideration.

The plate or tableV II is magnetized and the game pieces I Il include magnetic metal or material so that in placing the puzzle or game pieces upon the plate I I, the same will be retained in position thereon against .accidental displacement. The game pieces shown in Figs. l and 2 are composed of a magnetic metal and are characterized by printing, painting, lithographing or the like on one or both side faces thereof to represent a predetermined picture or pictures when the game pieces are assembled. It willthus be seen that by virtue of the material employed in the gme pieces I9 and the fact that the plate II` is magnetized, the pieces I0 will maintain a position in which they are placed on the plate without danger of accidentaldisplacement and in this way, the solution of the puzzle is materially simplified as well as in creating added interest to both young and old in the solution of the Apuzzle; Furthermore, it will be apparent that the plate II lmay be characterized to form a framingor like supporting body so that after the severalpieces of the puzzle have been applied thereto, the same may be hung up on a wall in the manner of hanging pictures and the like.

In Fig. 4 of the drawing, we have indicated at I 2 a modied form of puzzle or game piece which consists in providing a magnetic surface I2a thereon and a non-magnetic surface I2b, the portions I2a and I 2b being secured togetherin anysuitable manner, and the surface I2a may be composed of asheet of magnetic metal whereas the surface I2b may be composed of paper, cardboard,` wood, fibre, rubber or any other similar material. In Fig. 5 of the drawing, we have shown at I3 another form of puzzle or game piece which includes two outer, non-magnetic surfaces I3a and I3b andan intermediate filler I3c of magnetic material which may bea strip or sheet of 4material or a metallic composition including a binder adhering the filler` I3c to the outer surfaces I3a and I3b. In this connection, it will be underfstood that theller I3c may be composed of a powdered granular metallic material or metallic filings, and these metallic particles may be included in a sizing, paint or other binder which 'supports them together and to the facings as described.

In Fig. 6 of the drawing, wehave shown at I4 t thisfriction in Yreleasing a game piece.

netic facing I 4b is composed of granular magnetic particles secured to the surface of the facing Mb, and as before stated, these metallic particles or elements may include a suitable binder or sizing which will support the same upon the facing [4b or may bein the form of a metallic paint.

At this time, it will be understood that various other forms and constructions of the puzzle or game pieces may be employed, the essential feature being the provision in or on such pieces of magnetically influenced material in sufficient vol-y ume tok prevent accidental displacement of said pieces when placed upon or disposed over-and in close proximity to the plate II. In this connection, it will be understood that the puzzle or game pieces' do not necessarily have tol be placed directly upon the magnetic plate. For example, we have shown in Fig. 7 of the drawing-the magnetic plate or table IIa on the upper surface of which is a sheet or covering I Ib of non-magnetic material such for exampleas glass, fabric, paper and the like upon which the puzzle or game pieces may be placed and retainedin position by the influence 'of the magnetism of the plate IIa..Y It will also be apparent that .any means may be provided for retaining the magnetism of the plate or in renewing the same. I

'In Fig. 2 of the drawing, we have shown at I5 a hand toolby means of which the puzzle or game pieces may be conveniently raisedfrom the plate or table II, IIa, placedY in a desired position thereon in the solution of the puzzle and then released fromthe tool. This toolconsists of a rubber suction cup IE at the lower end thereof which will have sufficient suction to release the gaine pieces from the table against the magnetic influence ofthe table, and a plunger Il having a non-magnetic endy I8 disposed within the suction cup to forcibly remove thepuzzle pieces from the cup when in proper position.

The cup I6 -is disposed at one end of a tubular casing I'in which the plunger is slidably mounted.v 'Ihe plunger I1 projects through the upper end" of the casing I9 and has a nnger piece IIa by means of which the plunger may be depressed,

as will be understood.. The-plunger rod I1 fits tightly in .the aperture of the cup I6 through which it passes so as to be frictionally held in raised position and is forcibly depressed against It' will also beunderstood that the plunger is raised in the operation of depressing the suction cup I6 on one of theigame pieces. In-rthe'use of the device, the casing i9 will be grasped by one hand and the suction cup I6 thereof forced down upon a puzzle piece, thus attaching the same to the cup I6 permitting the same to be lifted from one point of the table or any other support and the placement thereof on the table in a desired position in the solution of the puzzle, and when soV placed, one finger of the hand will be used to depress the plunger l to disengage the .puzzle piece from the cup. It will be understood that the cup I6 will be sufficiently simple to `engage the smallest puzzle pieces, but it Will also be apparent that the use of the tool is not absolutely essential as the puzzle pieces may be handled by hand. However, the said tool will eliminate the magnetic inuence of the plate in the operation of placing the puzzle pieces in proper position.

It will be understood that the entire puzzle or game may be constructed in miniature or large sizes, and in the construction of miniature devices, the puzzle or game pieces including the magnetic plate and tool may be packed in a suitable container, and for this purpose, the magnetized plate may consist of two or more pieces. It will be understood that various other changes in and modications of the construcvtion herein shown and described may be made Within the scope of the appended claims Withlout departing from the spirit of our invention or sacrificing its advantages.

Having fully described our invention, what We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: f

1. A puzzle device of the classdescribed comprising a Amagnetized supporting member, said*` member being magnetized throughout the entire surface thereof, a plurality of intertting game pieces adapted to be arranged on any exposed surface of said member in edge to edge relation with respect to each other, and said game pieces including means establishing a magnetic attraction to said member whereby said game pieces When placed on said member will be maintained against p accidental displacement therefrom. v

2. A puzzle device ofthe class described comprising a magnetized supporting member, said member being magnetized throughout the entire surface thereof, a plurality of intertting game pieces adapted to be arranged onA any exposed surface of said member in edge to edge relation with respect to each cther,'said game pieces including means establishing a magnetic attraction to said member whereby said game pieces when placed on said member will be maintained against accidental displacement therefrom, and said game pieces having facings of non-magnetic material.

3. A puzzle device of the class described comprising a magnetized supporting member, said member being magnetized throughout the en,- tire surface thereof, a plurality of interfltting game pieces adapted to be arranged on any exposed surface of said member in edge to edge relation with respect to each other, said game pieces including means establishing a magnetic attraction to said member whereby said game pieces when placed on said member will be maintained against accidental displacement therefrom,v and said member including athin surface of non-magnetic material.

4. In a puzzle device employing a game plate prising magnetically influenced material, and a` facing of non-magnetic material.

' THOMAS H. DARLING.

WILLIAM MACCABEE. 

